Portable nursery feeder



Sept. 19, 1961 c. R. PEDRO PORTABLE NURSERY FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 w ffll j 9 9 0 I 9 9 u w w w W R O T N E W Sept. 19, 1961 c. R. PEDRO 3,000,601 7 PORTABLE NURSERY FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 IN VENTOR Charles R. Pedro,

ATTORNEY 3,000,601 PORTABLE NURSERY FEEDER Charles R. Pedro, Mina, Nev. Filed June 14, 1960, Ser. No. 35,928 8 Claims. (or. 248-106) The present invention relates to a portable nursery feeder and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a portable nursery feeder comprising a framework formed of tubing and including a pair of downwardly and outwardly extending U-shaped supporting legs. The upper end portion of the framework is provided with a base plate to which is pivotally connected a bottle-supporting device, the latter including means for collectively maintaining the supporting device in a vertical or raised position and in a downwardly and outwardly extending lowered position. A novel latch is provided for securing the support in its lowered position and novel means is provided for automatically releasing the latch when desired. The supporting device includes also a pair of guide rods upon which is slidably mounted a bottle receptacle which latter includes novel means for securing a bottle therein. The supporting device is also provided with a novel stop member for adjusting the limits of movement of the bottle holder on the guide members. Novel means is provided in the bottle holder for adjusting the same to encompass bottles of various sizes and a novel lock is provided in the bottle holder for locking a bottle within the same. A handle is provided for the framework whereby the entire apparatus may be lifted from a babys crib or the like without endangering the baby due to swinging of the apparatus during such operation. The apparatus possesses many novel features which will be brought out in the appended specification.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, a novel framework forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, a novel bottlesupp-orting device forming a part. of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, novel latch means for maintaining the bottle-supporting device in operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for automatically releasing the above-mentioned latch means.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, a novel bottle-holder forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, a novel locking means for a bottle holder forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel guide member for a bottle holder, said guide member and bottle holder both forming parts of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character set forth, novel stop means for limiting the movement of a bottle holder upon a guide member, said stop member, bottle member and guide all forming parts of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

seat! FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a bottle holder and associated mechanisms illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIGURE 2,v illustrating a bottle-supporting device in operative position,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the bottle-supporting device in raised position,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a framework generally designated at 10 which framework is preferably and as shown formed of tubing which may be chrome plated or otherwise given a pleasing appearance. The framework consists of a pair of spaced horizontal bars 11 of tubing connected at each end and in each case with forward fittings 12 and rear- Ward fittings 13. Afiixed by screws 15 or the like to the fittings 12 is a transverse plate 16 having an upturned vertical portion 17 preferably of triangular shape. By screws 13 or the like a transverse plate 19 is connected to the fittings I3 and is likewise provided with an upwardly extending integrally formed triangular plate 20. A preferably cylindrical handle 21 interconnects the apex portions of the vertical members 17 and 20'.

Relatively short tubular members 22 extend horizontally rearwardly from the fittings 13 and are, in turn, connected to T members 23, the latter being interconnected by a relatively short tubing 24- extending transversely of the apparatus. A relatively short tubular member 25 extends horizontally outwardly from each of the members 23 and is, in turn, connected to an L-shaped fitting 26, these members being likewise, in turn, connected to relatively short vertically downwardly extending tubular members 27 each having a collar 28 threaded t0 the lower end thereof.

Substantially U-shaped supports are provided as a part of the framework 10 and each consists of a vertical leg 29 which is extended into the tubular portion 2'7 and locked therein by means of the collar 28. The lower ends of the legs 29 are rounded, as indicated at 30 and integrally connected with longitudinally extending parallel supporting runners 31. The forward ends of each of the runners 31 are rounded, as indicated at 32, and have integrally formed therewith an angularly, rearwardly, inwardly and upwardly extending leg 33, the upper end portions of which are rearwardly curved, as indicated at 34 and inserted into the forward ends of relatively short tubings 35 and securely locked therein by means of collars 36, the forward ends of the tubings 35 being, in turn, connected to the fittings 12.

To the rearwardly extending portions 34 of the legs 33 there is affixed by means of screws 37 or the like a horizontally extending base plate 38 having at either side. thereof a downturned ear 39 which may be further secured to the members 34 by screws 40 or the like, if desired.

The forward end portion of the base plate 38 is provided with integrally formed spaced parallel vertically extending ears 41. A U-shaped bracket is generally indicated at 42 and is provided with a bight portion 43 and a pair of integrally formed leg portions 44. An elongated bolt 45 extends through the upper portions of the ears 41 and the free end portions of the legs 44 to thereby pivotally mounted the bracket 42 upon the plate 38.

A forwardly extending car 49 is centrally affixed to the bight portion 43 of the bracket 42 and has pivoted thereto, as indicated at 50, a trigger member having a hook 51 at its lower end and a vertically extending arm 52 at its upper end. A latch string 53 is afiixed, as indicated at 54, to one leg 44 of the bracket 42 and extends longitudinally forwardly with respect to said leg and thence inwardly having its free end portion extend ing through the arm 52, as indicated at 55. A dog 56 is integrally formed with one of the legs 44 of the bracket 42 and is adapted to engage and abut its associated ear 41 when the bracket 42 is in a vertical position as indicated in FIGURE 4 thus limiting the upward movement of the bracket 42 to a vertical position as shown in FIGURE 4.

A retraction spring is generally indicated at 57 (see FIGURES 2 and 6) and is provided with a pair of outer legs 58 which terminate in feet 59 which feet 59 underlie the forward portion of the member 38 as clearly shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6. The spring 57 is provided with a pair of spaced inner legs 60 which are interconnected at their outer ends with a cross piece 61 which encompasses the ear 49. The inner ends of the outer legs 58 are each connected with an adjacent inner end of one of the inner legs 60 by coiled portions 62 which surround the bolt 45.

A pair of spaced parallel tubular guide members 63 are provided with exteriorly threaded inner end portions which extend through the apex portion 43 of the bracket 42 and which are afiixed to such apex portion by means of nuts 64 on either side of said bight portion 43. The outer end portions of the guide members 63 are fixedly interconnected by a cross bar 65 held in position preferably by nuts 66 or the like.

A stop member is generally indicated at 67 and comprises a sleeve 68 slidably mounted upon one of the guide members 63. A set screw having an enlarged head 69 extends through the sleeve 68 to bear against the associated guide member 63.

A bottle holder is generally indicated at 70 and comprises a pair of sleeve 71 each slidably mounted upon one of the guide members 63. The top portions of the sleeves 71 are fixedly interconnected by a base plate 72, the plate 72 being affixed to the sleeves 71 by welding or other suitable means.

Atop the plate 72 there is centrally and longitudinally mounted an elongated foot member 74 of a vertically extending bottle positioning member 75 having a rearwardly turned upper end, as indicated at 76. The foot 74 is provided with a pair of centrally located longitudinally spaced, longitudinally extending slots 77.

A pair of bottle receiver members is indicated at 78 and each is provided with a flat bottom portion 79 and an integrally formed upwardly extending side portion 80. The bottom portions of each of the members 78 are each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending slots 81, the bottom members 79 lying in overlapping manner upon a pair of nuts 82. Screws 83, countersunk into square nuts 84 extend through the nuts 84, thence through the registering slots 81, thence through the nuts 82, thence through the slots 77, thence through openings (not shown) in the plate 72, terminating in heads 85.

An L-shaped bracket has one of its arms 86 affixed to the upper portion of the outer side of one of the members 80 while its other arm 87 extends laterally from the upper portion thereof. A bolt 88 or the like is suitably maintained in position by means of locknuts 89 and has pivotally mounted upon its outer end portion a locking bar 90. The opposite side wall 80 is provided with an L-shaped bracket having a base 91 afiixed centrally to the upper portion thereof and having a laterally extending arm 92 extending from the upper portion of the member '91. A screw 93 extends through the arm 92 and is fixed in position thereon by means of nuts 94 and fastened at its upper end to a socket 95 or the like atop which is aflixed a U-shaped socket 96 whose legs extend forwardly and the lower leg of which is elongated and is provided with a forwardly and downwardly extending plate 97 atop which is pivot-ally connected a latch member 98 by means of a screw 99 and nut 100. i

In operation, it will be apparent that the device is portable by means of one hand which may grasp the handle 21 and move it from place to place. When it is desired to place the apparatus in operative position with respect to a baby, as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it is only necessary to place the frame- Work over the body of the baby in such manner that the runners 31 lie at either side of the babys body and may be placed atop the bed covers to additionally secure the covers in proper position upon the baby or, alternatively, may be placed beneath the covers and the covers then extended between the legs 29 and 33. In any event, the frame 10 is then moved longitudinally with respect to the body of the baby to a position where the bottle in the bottle-holder 70 may be readily accessible to the babys mouth. Prior to this operation, however, the U-shaped bracket 42 may be elevated to its position shown in FIGURE 4 whereupon the bottle may be placed in the bottle holder 70. This is accomplished by loosening the screws 83 so that the bottle receiver members 73 may be brought into snug fitting position with each side of the bottle and the bottle positioning member 75 brought into contact with the bottom of the bottle. When this is done, the locking bar may be pivoted into horizontal locking position where it is received in the socket member 96 after which the latch 98 may be swung into the position shown in FIGURE 5 to securely hold the bar 98 in its latched position with respect to the bottle, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 1. It will be apparent that the position of the bar 96* with respect to the bottle may be adjusted by means of the nuts 89 and 94, since the diameters of bottles may vary.

The bracket 42 may then be moved in a counterclockwise direction as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 to thus position the bottle in a downwardly inclined position as indicated in FIGURE 3, where the baby may have access to the nipple usually associated with such bottles, as indicated in FIGURE 1. When this movement takes place, it will be apparent that the hook 51 will engage with the downturned lower edge of the base plate 38, the same being urged into such locked position by means of the spring 53. The bottle holder 70 will move by gravity to its lowermost position until one of the sleeves 71 associated therewith comes into the contact with the sleeve 68 forming the stop member. It will be appreciated that by varying the position of the stop member 68 by means of the set screw 69 upon its associated guide member 63, that the downward movement of the sleeves 71 and consequently the bottle holder 70 may be varied at will.

When it is desired to raise the bottle from access by the baby, it is only necessary to grasp the bottle holder 70 and move the same upwardly as shown in FIGURE 3 until the detent 75 comes into contact with the arm 52 thus moving the latter in an upward direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 and releasing the hook 51 from engagement with the plate 38 thus allowing the spring 57 to pivot the bottle holder and its associated apparatus including the bracket 42 again to a vertical position as indicated in FIGURE 4. At this time, the apparatus may be left in place so that its weight may hold the bed clothes in position as above referred to and also act as a guard against movement of the baby from a position in a crib or bed thus affording an additional safeguard to untoward movements of the baby.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the Scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a bracket pivoted to said frame, a pair of guide members extending from said bracket, a bottle holder slidably mounted on said guide members, means for latching said bracket in lowered position, spring means normally urging said bracket to raised position, and a stop member adjustably positioned upon one of said guide members whereby to limit downward movement of said bottle holder in its lowered position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a bracket pivoted to said frame, a pair of guide members extending from said bracket, a bottle holder slidably mounted on said guide members, means for latching said bracket in lowered position, spring means normally urging said bracket to raised position, and a stop member adjustably positioned upon one of said guide members whereby to limit downward movement of said bottle holder in its lowered position, said stop member comprising a sleeve encompassing its associated guide member, and a set screw extending radially into said sleeve and adapted to abut said guide member.

3. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein latch means is provided for holding a bottle in said bottle holder.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch means comprises a latch bar pivoted upon one side of said bottle holder, a U-shaped socket mounted on the other side of said holder and adapted to receive the free end portion of said bar, a downwardly and angularly extending plate formed integrally with said socket, and a latch pivoted to said plate and adapted to abut the bar when the latter is received in said socket.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottle 6 holder is formed of a pair of complementary laterally adjustable parts.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said holder is provided with a longitudinally extending foot member having an integrally formed bottle positioning portion, said foot member being longitudinally adjustable with respect to said holder, and said bottle positioning portion adapted to abut against the bottom of a bottle mounted in said holder.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for latching said bracket in lowered position includes a mounting plate for said bracket aifixed to the upper portion of said frame, a hook member, and a spring carried by said bracket and normally urging said hook member into engagement with said mounting plate.

8. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a bracket pivoted to said frame, a bottle support carried by said bracket, means for latching said bracket in lowered position, and spring means urging said bracket to raised position, said bottle support including a pair of guide members extending from said bracket and a bottle holder slidably mounted on said guide members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

